Wave-motor.



J. R. MENDBNHALL.

' WAVE MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1912. 70

Patented June 2, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,WASH1NGTON, D. C.

J. R. MBNDENHALL WAVE MOTOR.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 9, 1912.

1,098,51 7. Patented June 2, 1914.

2 BHEBTB-SHEBT 2.

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\\\\\IIIIIII If, j'fmim/m/Z, l/vdmaooeo JOHN 131. MENDENHAIAL, OESE-ABGHLIGHT, ltl'ElU-ililil.

WAVE-MOTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J1 une 2, 1914.

Application filed May 9, 1912. Serial No. 698,226.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN R. Melam n- HALL, acitizen of the United States, res1d ing at Searchlight, in the county ofClark, State of Nevada, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in "Wave-Motors; and 1 do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains'to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in wave motors,the object of the invention being to utilize the force of waves foroperating the machinery mainly through rotation imparted to a shaft.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a wave motor ofsimple and durable structure involving a float operated shaft, motionbeing imparted thereto by raising of the float which moves independentof the shaft in falling and in which said float is capable of rotationto swing with any side motion of the water and thus greatly lengthen thelife of the device.

Vfith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists ofcertain other combinations and arrangements of parts as will behereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is aside elevation of my im proved wave motor. Fig. 2 is a topplan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.Fig. 4c is a sectional view taken on the line 1% of Fig. 2. Fi g. 5 is adetail sectional view of the pawl and ratchet mechanism.

As shown, my improved wave motor comprises a float 10 of suitable sizeand preferably formcd of sheet metal sections riveted together as shownat 11, the said floatbeing so constructed as to be properly actuated soas to rise and fall by the force of the waves and being for thispurpose. preferably of rectangular form in plan view but havingdownwardly and inwardly sloping side portions 12 forming substantiallyan inverted pyramid. A pair of spaced parallel arms 13 have their freeends bolted to the top of the float as shown at 14: and the inner endsof the arms are increased in size and formed with enlarged semi-circularbearing members 15.

Adapted to coact with the bearing members 15 to form a split hosting 16at the inner end of each arm are semi-circular bearing plates 17, bothof the members 15 and 17 havin abutting flanges 18 transversely thereorand which are bolted together as shown at 19. The boxings thus formedare held against movement and are rigidly engaged on a horiaontalsupporting shaft 20 which is journaled at its ends in bearing boxes 21arranged for movement in a circular path upon arcuatc tracks 22concentrically arranged relative to the center of said shaft. The tracks22 may be supported in a rigid position in any convenient manner and ata proper distance above the water line for the passage of the watertherebetween. Also rotatably mounted on the shaft 20 is a largetwo'piece gear wheel 23, the same being held against displacement orlongitudinal movement on the shaft 20 at one side of the longitudinalcenter of the latter between the arms 13 where the latter are clampedrigid to the shaft through the medium of the boxings 16 and againstwhich latter the opposite faces of the hub portion 24 of the gear wheel.23 is movable, the coacting faces being properly lubricated to insurefree rotation of the gear wheel.

A driven shaft 25 is rotatably supported in a vertical position in ahorizontal bearing 25 as shown and depends to a point centrally of thelongitudinal extent of the shaft 20 and a small beveled gear wheel 26 isrig idly mounted on the lower end of the shaft 25 for engagement withthe gear wheel 23 whereby motion imparted to the gear wheel 23 in amanner to be hereinafter made apparent will rotate the shaft 25 throughthe intermeshed gear 26 and the momentum of the larger gear wheel and asuitable fly wheel mounted on a counter shaft not shown will causecontinuous driving action.

In order to impart rotation to the gear wheel 23, the inner faces ofboth of the arms 13 are provided with catch members or pawls 9.7 whichare pivoted to the arms as shown at 28 and extend upwardly forengagement with opposed series of notches 529 formed continuously inopposite side faces of the gear 23 so that rising of the float 10 on thewaves causes the pawls 27 to engage in the notches 29 and upon upwardmovement of the pawls, to rotate or turn the large gear wheel 23 uponthe shaft 2 0 and in turn, to cause rotation of the shaft 25 through theintermeshed gear 26.

During the downward motion of the float, the nawls at will ride over thenotches and thus permit the large gear wheel to continue to rotate orrevolve in the direction started by the rising of the float and to becontinuously rotated by the movements of the float and thereby utilizingthe force of the waves for running any desired machinery.

From the foregoing description in con nection with the accompanyingdrawings it will be seen that I have provided a very efli cient wavemotor and one which by reason of, its simple construction will utilizethe maximum amount of force of the waves without undue lost motion andit will be further evident that by reason of mounting the supportingshaft in bearings movable upon circular tracks arranged in a commoncircular path. and by disposing the gear wheel 26 centrally between thetracks or in the center of the circular side swing thereof, said gearwill be in the same relative position to the large gear Wheel at alltimes and thus the partscan rotate during any side motion of the float.

I claim:

In a: Wave motor, the combination with a pair of arcuate longitudinallyslotted tracks arranged at opposite points invthe circumference of acommon circle, of supports for said tracks adapted to space the tracksabove the surface of the water, a shaft, bearings on the ends of saidshaft, said bearings journaling said shaft for rotation and furtherhaving depending guides disposed in the slots of said tracks wherebysaid shaft is mounted for horizontal movement in a circular path on saidtracks, a gear loose on said shaft and having. ratchet teeth in theopposite sides, a float having parallel straight arms passing onopposite sides of said gear and fixed to said shaft and serving tooscillate said shaft during rise and fall of the float under the actionof the waves, pivoted Lip-standing hook-like pawls carried by the armsengageable with the ratchet teeth of said gear for rotating said gearstep by step during the rise and fall of said float, and a driven shafthaving a pinion meshing with said gear.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN R. MENDENHALL.

Witnesses:

l/VALTER R. Gnorr, LonIsW. GoDIN.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner--01 Patents, Washington, 10. G.

